Middle School

A company that makes trail mix uses \(1 \frac{3}{8}\) pounds of peanuts for every \(\frac{2}{3}\) pound of raisins. They make 245 pounds of trail mix using only peanuts and raisins. How many pounds of peanuts do they use?

Answer :

Final answer:

To find out how many pounds of peanuts the company uses, we need to determine the ratio of peanuts to raisins and then multiply that ratio by the total weight of trail mix.

Explanation:

To find out how many pounds of peanuts the company uses, we need to determine the ratio of peanuts to raisins and then multiply that ratio by the total weight of trail mix.

The ratio of peanuts to raisins is 1 3/8 pounds to 2/3 pound. To simplify this ratio, we can convert both fractions to a common denominator. 2/3 can be converted to 8/12 and 1 3/8 can be converted to 11/8. So the ratio becomes 11/8 to 8/12, or 11:8.

Since we know the total weight of the trail mix is 245 pounds, we'll divide it into 11 parts (for peanuts) and 8 parts (for raisins).

To find out how many pounds of peanuts are used, we multiply 245 by the fraction 11/19. The answer is approximately 139.74 pounds.

p:r=11/8:2/3

p:r=33/24:16/24

p:r=33:16

245/(33+16)=245/49=5

P=33(5)=165 lb of peanuts

R=16(5)=80 lb of raisins